An elephant calf that has been in the care of the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC) in South Africa for the past 16 months, has been successfully introduced to the resident Jabulani herd. The introduction took place in early April 2018, and the great news is that the calf will remain with the herd going forward! In November […]

Twenty people are reported dead, and at least 39 have been hospitalised after a dam in Kenya broke its banks last night, following heavy rain in the area. According to reports, the breach – which occurred in Solai, about 190km north-west of Nairobi – caused “huge destruction”, flooding nearby villages. Homes were swept away leaving […]

On the south east coast of South Africa, along the Elephant Coast, there is a campground called Mabibi. It is the ideal escape, hours from civilisation, across the semi-tropical coastline… writes Annie DuPre-Reynolds. Disclaimer: if you dislike finding sand in your clothing for weeks to come, stay away. Mabibi is not glamping. It is rugged, wild and […]

Local Lesotho farmers, who have produced the southern African country’s first wine, are urging people around the world to please share their video so that their wine can reach Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in time for their wedding on 19 May 2018. The Thamae family, producers of Sani Wines – have a unique present […]

Twenty-four years into democracy and we still have people who live fearful because of what skin colour they were born with. Rituals and spiritual philosophies about albinism have led to brutal murders, especially of children. This is despite the campaigns initiated around South Africa to curb the attacks on people with albinism. It is no […]

Kenyan wildlife conservationist Daphne Sheldrick, famous for saving orphaned elephants, has sadly passed away at the age of 83, after a long battle with breast cancer. Daphne – who founded the famous David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) in 1977, which she named after her late husband – died Thursday evening, 12 April 2018, according to […]

The headline on the Zimbabwe Herald could not have made it clearer: “Police tighten noose on Grace Mugabe.” The newspaper, for 37 years the mouthpiece of Robert Mugabe’s government, is now the voice of the new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa. He replaced Mugabe when the long-time leader was deposed in late 2017. Over the last couple […]

China’s decision to suspend presidential term limits is still reverberating around the world. The announcement, made after a vote by China’s parliament in March, prompted some commentators to draw comparisons with “third termism” in Africa, when leaders flout democratic conventions to stay in power as long as possible. These concerns certainly resonate on a continent where leaders […]

Many South Africans leave South Africa unaware of their future plans. Perhaps they are going overseas on a year-long expat assignment, or they could be simply travelling and working their way around the globe. As they become more settled in a new country, their thoughts often turn to staying there for the long term, which […]

Former Zimbabwe First Lady, Grace Mugabe, is allegedly under investigation for running an ivory poaching syndicate, which also smuggled gold and diamonds out of Zimbabwe, according to the UK’s Telegraph. In an exclusive interview with Australian photo-journalist Adrian Steirn (whom many will remember for his incredible series of photos of the Pangolin Men, and of […]

The world has been shattered by the death of the last male northern white rhino, Sudan… but none more so that one of his close companions, Warden James Mwenda. After Sudan’s death earlier this week at Olpejeta Conservancy in Kenya, James wrote a tribute that has been shared thousands of times. “Good bye Sudan, I […]

Most South African expats do it. And most of them have been caught at it at least once… including one of SA’s most famous expats, Hollywood actress Charlize Theron. We’re talking about ‘praating die taal‘ in public, using Afrikaans as a ‘secret’ language when you don’t want the people around you (or your own children […]

Recently, one of my followers asked me about exploring game parks around South Africa, as a woman… writes Annie DuPre-Reynolds. I’m very independent (just ask my husband) and have gone to Pilanesberg, the Kruger and Golden Gate National Parks – to name a few – on my own in the past few years. I’ve also organised trips for girlfriends visiting from […]

The Kalahari has been drenched in beautiful showers of wet, wonderful rain. The dry and arid soil, and vegetation, has soaked up the water and transformed the barren desert into a luscious green visual feast. ‎Local resident Pieter Kotzé, who works at Kalahari Rangers farm (formerly Mc Carthy’s Rest) on the Northern Cape border with […]

Eligible South Africans have been urged by government to register to vote and update their addresses on the voters’ roll this weekend. “Government calls upon all eligible South African voters to visit their voting stations this coming weekend,” said Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will on Saturday, 10 and Sunday, 11 […]

A very cute video of an orphaned chimpanzee – Mussa – snuggling the pilot who rescued him is making headlines around the world… and increasing awareness about the devastating poaching of yet another endangered species. The Belgian anti-poaching pilot, Anthony Caere, who works for Virunga National Park, said it was great teamwork between the Park […]

Sadly, the last surviving male northern white rhino in the world does not appear to have much time left. Ol Pejete Conservancy in Kenya, which is home to the last three northern white rhinos, delivered the tragic news on Thursday. Ol Pejete said in a statement, that since so many people have supported the northern […]

I have been a professional wildlife photographer for 30-plus years, but never before have I seen eight adult cheetahs in one group… writes Daryl Balfour. A mother and six tiny cubs, yes, (and that was with the selfsame Malaika in these pictures)… but eight big cheetahs… never. I came upon this scene with my guest […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the most important people are ordinary South Africans, who are faced with socio-economic challenges ranging from poverty to diseases. The President said ever since he delivered the State of the Nation Address (SONA) last week, many have given him an indication of a sense of patriotism with the message, “Send me”. […]

Messages of congratulations have poured in from Heads of State across the world for South Africa’s newly-elected President Cyril Ramaphosa. “President Cyril Ramaphosa received messages of congratulations from a number of Heads of State and Government during a round of telephone calls on Sunday 18 February 2018. President Ramaphosa took the calls at his official […]

Watch the daring rescue below of a giraffe which was choking on a metal wire wrapped dangerously around its neck. The video was uploaded by Inside Edition on 29 January 2018. It was apparently filmed in Mikembo Sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rescuers worked together to tranquillise the large animal with a […]

Multichoice announced on Wednesday that it will not renew its contract with the 24-hour News Channel ANN7, when the contract expires on 20 August 2018. The decision has been met with mixed feelings – with some concerned for what this means to media freedom, and others welcoming the end of “dishonest journalism”. Following an internal […]

A South African woman has been seriously injured in an attack by a male leopard at Matopi 1 Camp on the Botswana side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Unusually, she was inside her tent when the attack took place. This account of the attack was posted on 4x4community.co.za forum: On the night of the 4th of January my […]

An enthusiastic adventure conservationist (very) bravely helped rescue a Kudu caught in a fence in Botswana. Grant Pengilly, a South African field guide and helicopter pilot from Wild Wonderful World, says in a caption on YouTube: “After leaving the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, we came across a young male Kudu caught in a fence. “With […]

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is meeting Monday with officials from the Embassy of the United States of America in Pretoria, following the recent disturbing comments attributed to President Donald Trump. DIRCO said it will provide an opportunity to the Charges de Affaires (the second in charge) to explain the statement by […]